Reloading apparatus having improved primer mechanism

Abstract

A reloading apparatus removes used primer caps and inserts new primer caps into the base of casings substantially automatically. The apparatus includes a ram for holding a casing and for moving the casing relative to a reconditioning means for reconfiguring the casing to a desired, predetermined configuration. The ram carries a primer arm movable automatically between a first, non-priming position during the time the casing is being deprimed and a second, priming position after the casing has been deprimed. The ram is provided with a longitudinally extending slot having a pivot pin. The primer arm includes a first member disposed within the slot and releasably connected to the pivot pin. The primer arm includes a second member extending outwardly of the slot and engageable with a stationary portion of the reloader. A primer cap holder is located at the intersection of the first and second members. Upon movement of the ram toward the priming position, the second member engages the stationary portion and causes the primer cap holder to be pivoted into the ram slot. Further movement of the ram toward the priming position causes the primer arm to move relative to the ram and the casing and a primer cap eventually is pressed into the base of the casing. Upon movement of the ram to the non-priming position, the weight of the primer arm causes the primer arm to pivot about the pivot pin and move out of the slot. A new primer cap then can be inserted into the primer cap holder for use in a subsequent priming operation.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Reloading apparatus for holding a casing and inserting a primer cap into the base of the casing, comprising: an elongate ram movable vertically between an uppermost position and a lowermost position, the ram including means by which the base of a casing may be secured to the ram and maintained stationary with respect to the ram;   the ram including an opening to provide communication with the base of a casing secured to the ram;   a primer arm for carrying a primer cap and inserting the primer cap into the base of a casing by the ram, the primer arm being connected to the ram and moving with the ram for at least a portion of the travel of the ram, the primer arm including:   a first member connectable with the ram, the connection permitting the primer arm to move from a non-priming position where a primer cap may be inserted into the primer arm to a priming position where a primer cap may be inserted through the opening in the ram into the base of a casing; and   a second member for moving the primer arm into priming position and for disengaging the connection between the priming arm and the ram whereby, upon movement of the ram, the priming arm moves relative to the ram and inserts a primer cap into the base of a casing secured to the ram.   
     
     
       2. Reloading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the ram opening is in the form of a longitudinally extending slot extending from a first location adjacent that end of the ram to which the casing is secured to a second location removed from the first location;   a pivot pin extends across the slot near the second location;   the primer arm first member extends into the slot and is selectively engagable with the pivot pin;   the primer arm second member extends outwardly of the slot and defines surfaces for initiating displacement of the primer arm toward the priming position and for engaging a stationary portion of the reloading apparatus as the primer arm attains the priming position, thereby causing relative motion between the primer arm and the ram.   
     
     
       3. Reloading apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a lost motion connection between the pivot pin and the first member, the lost motion connection permitting the primer arm to move longitudinally of the ram as the ram approaches the lowermost position and permitting the pivotal connection between the primer arm and the pivot pin to be re-established as the ram is moved toward the uppermost position. 
     
     
       4. Reloading apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the lost motion connection is provided by: a slot extending longitudinally of the first member, the slot opening through an end surface of the first member;   a laterally extending offset provided at that end of the slot remote from the end surface; and   the slot and offset being of a width sufficient to accomodate the pivot pin.   
     
     
       5. Reloading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a primer feed for supplying primer caps to the primer arm as the ram approaches the uppermost position. 
     
     
       6. Reloading apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the primer feed comprises: an elongate feed tube for holding a supply of primer caps; and   a feed block to which the primer feed tube is secured, the feed block being positioned such that the primer arm engages the feed block, thereby dispensing primer caps into the primer arm.   
     
     
       7. Reloading apparatus for holding a casing and inserting a primer cap into the base of the casing, comprising: an elongate ram movable vertically between an uppermost position and a lowermost position, the ram including a holder head by which the base of a casing may be secured to the ram and maintained stationary with respect to the ram;   the ram having a longitudinally extending slot extending from a first location adjacent the holder head to a second location remote from the holder head;   the holder head being provided with an opening to establish communication between the base of a casing carried by the holder head and the slot;   a pivot pin extending across the slot near the second location;   a primer arm for carrying a primer cap and inserting the primer cap into the base of a casing carried by the holder head, the primer arm including:   a first member extending into the slot and engagable with the pivot pin, the engagement with the pivot pin permitting the primer arm to pivot from a non-priming position outside of the slot where a primer cap may be inserted into the primer arm to a priming position inside the slot where a primer cap can be inserted into the casing through the opening in the holder head; and   a second member extending outwardly of the slot and having surfaces for initiating displacement of the primer arm toward the primary position and for engaging a stationary portion of the reloading apparatus as the primer arm attains the priming position.   
     
     
       8. Reloading apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a lost motion connection between the pivot pin and the primer arm, the lost motion connection permitting the primer arm to move longitudinally of the ram as the ram approaches the lowermost position and permitting the pivotal connection between the primer arm and the pivot pin to be re-established as the ram is moved toward the uppermost position. 
     
     
       9. Reloading apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the lost motion connection is provided by: a slot extending longitudinally of the first member, the slot opening through an end surface of the first member;   a laterally extending offset provided at that end of the slot remote from the end surface; and   the slot and offset being of a width sufficient to accommodate the pivot pin.   
     
     
       10. Reloading apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a primer feed for supplying primer caps to the primer arm as the ram approaches the uppermost position. 
     
     
       11. Reloading apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the primer feed comprises: an elongate feed tube for holding a supply of primer caps; and   a feed block to which the primer feed tube is secured, the feed block being positioned such that the primer arm engages the feed block, thereby dispensing primer caps into the primer arm.   
     
     
       12. Reloading apparatus for reconditioning a used casing, removing a spent primer from the casing, and inserting a new primer into the casing, comprising: reconditioning means for altering the configuration of a casing to a desired, predetermined configuration;   a ram for holding a casing to be reconditioned;   drive means for moving the ram and the casing relative to the reconditioning means to effect reconditioning of the casing, the reconditioning means also removing a spent primer for the casing if a primer is carried by the casing; and   a primer arm for inserting a primer cap into the casing, the primer arm being connected to the ram and movable with the ram, the primer arm being moved to a non-priming position during reconditioning of the casing and being moved to a priming position upon movement of the ram subsequent to reconditioning of the casing.   
     
     
       13. Reloading apparatus according to claim 12 in which the reconditioning means is stationary and the ram moves relative to the reconditioning means. 
     
     
       14. Reloading apparatus according to claim 13 in which: the ram is an elongate member having a longitudinally extending slot, the slot extending from a first position adjacent that end of the ram to which the casing is secured to a second location remote from the first location;   a pivot pin extends across the slot near the second location;   a portion of the primer mechanism extends into the slot and is held in position there by the pivot pin; and,   the primer mechanism is movable between the non-priming position where portions of the primer mechanism are positioned outside of the slot and the priming position where portions of the priming mechanism are moved into the slot.   
     
     
       15. Reloading apparatus according to claim 14, in which: the primer arm is an L-shaped structure having first and second members positioned substantially at right angles to each other;   a slot is formed in the first member, the slot extending from the end of the first member along the longitudinal axis of the first member toward the juncture of the first and second members, the first member being insertable into the ram slot and the primer arm slot being engageable with the pivot pin;   a primer cap holder for receiving individual primer caps is carried by the primer arm and is located near the juncture of the first and second members; and,   exterior surface portions of the second member constitute stop surfaces engageable with stationary portions of the reloading apparatus, engagement between the stop surfaces and the stationary portions of the reloading apparatus resulting in pivotal movement of the primer arm into the priming position and displacement of the primer cap holder into engagement with the base of the casing.   
     
     
       16. Reloading apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a primer feed for supplying primer caps to the primer arm as the primer arm approaches the non-priming position. 
     
     
       17. Reloading apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the primer feed comprises: an elongate feed tube for holding a supply of primer caps; and   a feed block to which the primer feed tube is secured, the feed block being positioned such that the primer arm engages the feed block, thereby dispensing primer caps into the primer arm.